Roasted-coffee preserver.



No. 650,399. Patented May 29, I900.

W. H. KER. ROASTED COFFEE PRESER VEB.

(Application filexf Mar. 20, 1900.'

(No Model.)

W1 T/VESSES Afforn ey UNITED STATES PATENT ome a WILLIAM H. KER, OFMEMPHIS, TENNESSEE ROASTED-COFFEE PRESERVER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 650,399, dated 29,1900.

Application filed March 20, 1900.

Serial No. 9,420. (No model.)

To aZZ whom it n-tag concern.-

Be it known that I, \VILILIAM H. KER, a citizen of the United States,residing at Memphis, in the county of Shelby, State of Tennessee, haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in Roasted-CoffeePreservers, of which the following is a specification, reference beinghad therein to the accompanying drawings. 7

This invention relates to a roasted-coffee preserver, and particularlyto a construction wherein the bin orcompartment containing the coffeemay be heated to the necessary extent to retain the coffee in a drycondition.

The invention has for one object to preserve both the aroma and thecrispness of the cofiee-berry, as well as the strength thereof, byretaining the same in a dry and slightlywarm condition, whereby theberry is prevented from absorbing the moisture and detrimental gases orodors from the surrounding atmosphere.

A further object of the invention is to provide means by which the heatmay be properly regulated and a series of compartments rendered quicklyavailable for the dealer dispensing different grades of coffee.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will hereinafter appear inthe following description, and the novel features thereof will beparticularly pointed out in the appended claims.

In the drawings, Figure 1 represents a vertical cross section throughthe invention. Fig. 2 is a top View thereof, and Fig. 3 is a horizontalsection on the line 3 3 of Fig. 1.

Like letters of reference indicate like parts throughout the severalfigures of the drawings.

In the drawings, the letter A represents a base-plate supported in anysuitable manner-for instance, by means of legs A-upon which there issupported a movable plate B. The easy rotation of these parts may beeffected by any desired means-for instance, the bearing-ballsB,traveling in suitable ways in the plates A and B. Supported from themovable plate B is a series of compartments or bins G, adapted toreceive coffee or other material to be stored. These are to be providedwith suitable fillingopenings C at their upper portions and deliverymeans 0 at the lower part and are arranged circumferentially of acentral space D. The walls of the compartments also taper inwardlytmward each other providing a series of heatspaces D at each side of thebins, and the lower walls C of the bins are tapered up wardly, thusexposing the same to the heat. The outer walls of the several bins orconipartments are shown as, curved, so that in the completed device theouter wall or periphery is circular, although it may be of any otherdesired configuration. For the pu rpose of supplying the necessary heata heat' ing device Efor instance, a burner, as shownis located withinthe space D, and the control of the heating fluid therethrough may beeffected by means of a suitable valve E.

In order to more thoroughly regulate the degree of heat for the purposeof retaining the material in a dry condition, the upper portion of thechamber D has been provided with outlet-openings F for the escape ofheat, over which a suitable damper F is adapted to be operated by meansof a handle F By closing this damper it will be seen that the heat willbe confined within the spaces D and D, thus thoroughly drying thematerial in the bins G. 7

It will be seen that the structure herein provided permits access of theheat to, the side walls and bottom of the compartment orbin, thusmaintaining the same at the proper temperature for the preservation ofthe cofiee in a crisp or fresh condition, and the degree of heat can atany time be regulated to efiect the desired drying action. This isparticularly desirable where the coffee has been stored in a moist placeand absorbed mois ture, which may be driven therefrom by placing thesame in the preserving device and removing the filling-caps C toallow-the escape of the moisture when the temperature of heat issufficient to drive the same from the coffee. By this invention a dealeris enabled to retain his coffee in the fresh-roasted condition which, asis well known, is extremely desirable, as there is a constant demand forfreshlyroasted cofiee. The number of compartments or bins may beincreased or diminished, as desired, and as each is separate andindependent from the others it is obvious that different grades ofcoffee or other materials may be stored therein. The heating device asshown herein consists of a perforated burner adapted for the consumptionof gas; but the 5 same may be altered, if found desirable, by theintroduction of any other suitable form of heating device. The slidingdischargedoors 0 herein shown have been found very desirable for thepurpose of discharg'in g coffee from the inclined bottom 0 of the bin;but

any other form of door or closure may be applied.

The device as a whole furnishes a veryattractive article of storefurniture and may be conveniently rotated, so that the dealer can obtainaccess to any one of the bins or compartulents Without inconvenience.

Having described my invention, what I claim is-- 2o 1 A colfee-preservercomprising a series of bins or compartments having their side Wallsseparated from each other and a central heating-chamber at the innerends of said bins, and a heating device located within said chamher;substantially as specified.

' 2. A cotfee-preserver comprising a series of bins or compartmentshaving the side Walls separated from each other and central heating-chamberat the inner ends of said bins, a

heating device located within said chamber, and a heat-regulating damperat the upper portion of said chamber; substantially as specified.

3. A coffee-preserver comprising aseries of bins or compartments havingthe side Walls separated from each other and a central heating-chamberat the inner ends of said bins, a heatingdevice located within saidchamber, a heat-regulating damper at the upper portion of saidchamber,and means whereby said compartments maybe rotated upon their base orsupport; substantially as specified.

4. In a coffee-preserver, the combination of a support, a platerotatable thereon, a series of bins or compartments disposed radially tothe center of said base and having separated walls, anda heating deviceat substantially the radial center of said bins; substantially asspecified.

5. In a coffee-preserver, the combination of a base and supporting-platerotatable thereon, a series of bins. supported upon said plate andhaving their side walls inclined inwardly toward each other to provide acentral heating-space with radiating-chambers extending between thebins, a regulating-damper at the upper portion of said heating-space,and a burner within said space; substantially as I specified.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature 6c in presence of twoWitnesses.

IVILLIAM II. KER.

\Vituesses:

P. P. GLUCK, 0. P. MARSHALL.

alum. nuwmdminmi

